Columbia man Tasered by police

COLUMBIA — A Columbia police officer used a Taser on a 37-year-old man who police say ignored commands and threatened to kill himself Friday.

Police responded to a call at about 11:45 a.m. regarding a man cutting his wrists and threatening to commit suicide, Sgt. Chris Kelley said in a news release.

The man left before officers arrived, and police were unable to locate him. Officers were called back to the residence at 2:06 p.m. after the man again threatened to commit suicide, Kelley said.

An officer found the man parked in a vehicle at the intersection of Highridge Court and Highridge Drive. Kelley said the man refused to respond to numerous requests to exit the vehicle and drove away.

Police found him on Vegas Drive near Loma Court and again ordered him out of the vehicle, Kelley said. The man refused multiple verbal commands to get on the ground and told officers to shoot him, Kelley said.

An officer used his Taser on the man and took him into custody, Kelley said.

The man was placed into protective custody and transported to a local hospital for evaluation, Kelley said.